ADIB Expands National Leadership Pipeline as 34 Employees Complete 10th Qiyadat Programme

ADIB Expands National Leadership Pipeline as 34 Employees Complete 10th Qiyadat Programme

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 6 October 2026: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), a leading Islamic financial institution, celebrated the graduation of 34 Emirati employees from the 10th cohort of its Qiyadat Leadership Development Programme, which aims to develop promising Emirati talent and equip them with the leadership and strategic skills needed to navigate the rapidly evolving financial sector, supporting ADIB Vision 2035’s goals of sustainable career development and building the next generation of leaders.

H.E. Jawan Awaidha Suhail Awaidha Al Khaili, Chairman of ADIB, attended the graduation ceremony alongside the GCEO and members of the bank’s senior executive management. The 10^th cohort brought together participants from across the bank’s business areas, including retail banking, corporate banking, treasury, credit, internal audit, operations and technology, legal, and human resources.

Over five months, participants undertook a comprehensive development journey that included in-person training programmes, thought leadership sessions, practical case studies, and specialised training modules delivered by senior ADIB executives to strengthen their leadership knowledge and develop their professional capabilities.

The programme adopted a dual assessment model to evaluate participants’ performance. Harvard Business Publishing assessed individual performance based on participation levels and the quality of completed assignments, while a panel of ADIB senior executives evaluated the group case studies and final presentations.

Bushra Al Shehhi, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at ADIB and Chairwoman of Kawader, said: “The strength of any organisation lies in its people, and achieving sustainable growth requires continuous investment in developing national talent and empowering them with the skills and experience needed to navigate rapid change. From this perspective, we view the Qiyadat programme as a long-term strategic investment aimed at developing Emirati leaders who are ready to take on greater responsibilities and contribute effectively to advancing the bank’s growth and excellence.”

Al Shehhi added: “The graduation does not mark the end of the journey, but rather the beginning of a new phase of professional growth and development. Graduates will continue to benefit from tailored development pathways and career opportunities that prepare them to take on leadership and strategic roles in the future. This builds on the success of the Qiyadat programme over the past decade in developing a generation of Emirati talent who today hold influential leadership and executive positions across the bank.”

Through the Qiyadat programme, ADIB continues to invest in developing Emirati talent and building a new generation of leaders equipped to meet future demands and strengthen the bank’s leadership pipeline. By combining specialised academic programmes with practical mentoring and coaching initiatives, the programme provides an integrated development environment that empowers national talent and enhances their readiness to lead transformation and foster a culture of innovation and excellence.

This approach reflects ADIB’s strong commitment to human capital development as a key pillar of sustainable growth. Continued investment in employee development strengthens organisational and operational resilience and enhances the bank’s readiness to navigate future change, supporting sustained growth while reinforcing ADIB’s contribution to the UAE’s sustainable economic development.